PORT ORANGE, Fla. -- Some athletes can face challenges that can make them feel like they're not on a level playing field with other competitors. But one program is helping to level that field – and create new friendships in the process.
- Spruce Creek High is a Special Olympic Unified Champion Schools
- With the program athletes compete on same team as athletes with disabilities
Cheyenne Wooten and Katelyn Murray spent much of this past school year perfecting their form.
The two qualified to compete in the Florida High School Track and Field State Championships.
Wooten wasn't always so fast to open up to people.
"She was very shy and she had a hard time looking up at you," said Tammy Graham, Special Olympics Unified Champion Coach.
"I'm doing better than I did before," said Wooten, a Spruce Creek High School student.
Spruce Creek High School is one of a handful of Special Olympic Unified Champion Schools – where athletes are on the same team with athletes who have intellectual disabilities.
"I think it brings everybody together and they can compete at the same level," said Murray, a Spruce Creek High School graduate.
It's helped Wooten grow as a competitor, teammate and as a person.
"The conversations are all over the place – there's definitely a bunch of funny ones that had," Murray said.
And it's not just Wooten that's grown from the experience.
"They get excited over the smallest things that on a day-to-day basis we wouldn't consider to be something that exciting, but they find it so awesome and it makes you put things into perspective," Murray said.
The bond they've made is unbreakable.
"Definitely new memories that we'll have forever," Murray said.
And no matter where they finish at competition, it's what competing together has given them Wooten values most.
"Her becoming my friend," Wooten said.
Unified Champion Schools is a partnership between Special Olympics and schools that continually apply to be a part of the program.